Mack Brown and Texas have a new extension in place, but that isn’t the interesting part.  The interesting part is that he’s not retired yet.  He had a coach-in-waiting in Will Muschamp.  Muschamp went to Florida.  Now, Brown has no one like that under contract, so he’s staying.  Is that truly wise?

Mack Brown isn’t exactly a spring chicken, and there’s a point at which your effectiveness runs out.  Just ask Bobby Bowden.  Plus, I would hate to see a Joe Paterno-like situation at Texas.  (Not the scandal, just, he gets let go and his heart can’t take it.)  I think that would be really sad.

I know that Mack Brown brought back Texas football.  He made them relevant again, and he even started beating Oklahoma again.  So, he’s the golden child and he’s going to be at Texas, if they like, until it’s all over.  However, you kind of have to know when to walk away.

At 60, Brown is pushing it in age.  You could say that people have coached far longer, and they have, but there comes a point at which your message runs out and younger guys need to have a chance to step in and take over.

Now, I have nothing against Mack Brown, and I’m glad that he gets paid as well as he does, but, in this college sports climate, it’s kind of hard to not think about how badly it could go for the older coach who hasn’t let go yet.  Sure, 60 isn’t ancient, but it isn’t young either.  I think we need to consider that he might want to step aside soon (especially since he had someone already designated as a “coach-in-waiting.”)  That tells me he was almost done.

I just want him to know when to walk away so that Texas football stays on top and doesn’t have to go through what FSU and Penn State are going through now.

 photo credit: Andrew Czap

RG3 is coming out in the draft.  We’ll get to that in a second.

Hudson Houck, the incredible offensive line coach for the Cowboys, has decided to retire.  He has spent a great deal of time with the Cowboys.  He’s developed tons of Pro Bowl linemen, and he is a mainstay on the Cowboys staff that would have continued to provide stability as the team moves in the direction of Jason Garrett.  I think I speak for everyone when I wish him all the best in his retirement.  At 69, I believe he’s earned it.  (Especially when Jackie Slater credits you for his development!)

Now, that RG3 has said that he’s coming out in the draft, it is a moment of reckoning.  I know that Jerry Jones is in charge and he is in love with Tony Romo, but I truly believe that he needs to think about making a change and going to RG3 so that Jason Garrett can develop him from the ground up.

RG3 is a Texas guy, a Baylor guy, and he would be an interesting fit in Dallas.  They need to make changes.  They need to shake things up.  The right team would easily move on a trade for Tony Romo in exchange for their pick.  Look at the draft order.

You don’t think Minnesota would make that deal?  They could easily be looking at ways to get around having picked Christian Ponder accidentally.  If that’s the case, they take Romo and move on now.  If not, they have to suffer next year, as well, after they failed with McNabb.

Cleveland could do the same thing and give up on Colt McCoy.  It would be an easy trade to make, but, would the Cowboys make it?

Likely not.

The best way to find out is to wait.  And pray.  (Or you’re happy with Romo and it doesn’t matter, but you need to just think about it first.)

 photo credit: mark.spencer.kc

Here at Dallas Pro Sports, we’ll talk a little college football and basketball on occasion as well. Tonight’s game has Southlake/Carroll quarterback legend Chase Daniels leading Missouri against Sam Bradford and the OU Sooners. It’s going to be a heck of a game, with Missouri facing their last opportunity to secure room in the Championship.

Listening to the ABC experts, you’d think Chase Daniels hung the moon. And let’s face it, with 3,951 passing yards and 33 passing touchdowns, he’s a definite Heisman Trophy candidate. Oklahoma’s redshirt freshman, Sam Bradford is no spring chicken either. Despite…. Bradford has passed for 2,670 yards and 32 touchdowns. He’s completed 70% of his 282 pass attempts, compared to Daniels’ 70% out of 495 attempts. Bradford missed some time on the field due to injury, which would probably have put him in a comparable position to Daniels when it comes to stats.

Keep in mind that Oklahoma has almost 300 more rushing yards than Missouri, so the Tigers rely on Daniels more to make the throws. The Sooners are more balanced, which means Bradford’s individual stats unfortunately won’t compete. The Oklahoma City native is doing his hometown proud. Had Bradford been healthy, Oklahoma would probably have reversed that second loss, putting them ahead of Missouri in the hunt for the Championship.

Chuck Cooperstein of ESPN Radio told Matt Mosley on the air this week that he would take Bradford over Daniels in a heartbeat. The talent difference isn’t so clear cut as all that, but I will say that their skill and attitude levels are definitely comparable. I personally get the best of both worlds because Chase Daniels played only a few miles away from my house and Bradford plays for my favorite college team (Boomer Sooner, baby!). I’m happy with either receiving the attention, but I think the national spotlight has unfairly highlighted Chase Daniels and ignored Sam Bradford. Perhaps it’s simply his redshirt freshman status. Bradford has several more years to win the Heismann. Chase Daniels is a junior, and probably should win the trophy. The only other legitimate contender SHOULD be running back Darren McFadden.

Several players would have been Heisman contenders were it not for injuries late in the season. Dennis Dixon and Sam Bradford would be right at the top were it not for missed games.